ROBERT
E. DUKES was born in Camden on September
19, 1922 to Albert
V. Dukes Sr. and his wife Barbara. By September of 1918 the family
had moved to 3803 Westfield
Avenue in East Camden.
The elder Dukes was then out of work but shortly thereafter landed a job working as a
record maker at the Victor Talking Machine Company. In 1920
he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. The Dukes family, which included
younger brothers Charles and Robert, remained at 3803 Westfield
Avenue through at least 1947. In February of 1938 older brother Albert
V. Dukes Jr. joined his father as a member of the Camden Fire
Department.

Robert
Dukes served in the United States Navy from December 28, 1942
until March 15, 1946. After returning home to Camden, Robert Dukes
was appointed to the
Camden Fire Department on March 24, 1947, and entered service on April
1.

Robert
Dukes' father, Albert
V. Dukes Sr. and brother Albert
V. Dukes Jr.were
still with the Camden Fire Department at that time. Albert
Jr. left the Fire Department on March 16, 1952. Robert
Dukes was promoted to Captain on May 1, 1956. On February 16, 1962 Robert
Dukes was again promoted, this time to the rank of Battalion Chief.
When he retired from service on January 1, 1980 Robert Dukes had given over 30 years to the Camden Fire Department.

By
late February of 1983 Robert
E. Dukes had moved to Port Charlotte, Florida. He was still a resident
of Port Charlotte when he passed away on August 4, 1997.

More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by
Howard
F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter's first aid committee.

Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief
William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster
Anthony
Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas
E.
George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.

“A
TIP O’ THE HELMET TO”……… Frank (Post-time) McGuckin and Fr. Marty Murray, of
Ladder Co. 2, for
the fine rescue of a trapped and unconscious child, performed at
"all hands-Box #5213", transmitted at 0945 hours on 26 March,
1977 for a fire located at 1466 Kaighn
Avenue. Quick action on the part
of all units, and successful mouth to mouth resuscitation applied by Fr.
McGuckin resulted in the saving of a life. Units operating at all
hands-5213 were Engines 7 and
8, Ladder Co.
2, and the 2nd Battalion
under the command of B.C. Bob Dukes. A job well done..

Camden
Courier-Post - June 5, 1975

Heart
Attack

Fireman
Dies After City Blaze

A
Camden fireman collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack early today
after returning from the scene of a two-alarm fire that severely damaged a
city warehouse.

A
brother of the fireman died under similar circumstances at a fire scene in
1964.

A
22-year veteran of the Camden Fire Department, Iannelli
had been on the scene of a fire at the Pompas waste paper warehouse at
1300 Pine
Street.

According
to Battalion Fire Chief Robert
Dukes, the fire broke out at 7:45 pm. and burned out of control until
shortly before 10 p.m. There were no injuries at the scene, Dukes
said, and the fire is under investigation by the Camden City Fire
Marshal's office.